-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- More than 40 years after pingpong diplomacy led to a thaw in Sino-American relations , it was on display again -- in rudimentary form -- as Michelle Obama visited a Beijing high school during her family 's first full day of a visit to China .

At about 9:30 a.m. , Obama -- accompanied by her daughters , Malia and Sasha , and her mother , Marian Robinson -- stepped from a black SUV onto a red carpet leading from the street to the entrance of Beijing Normal School , where they were greeted by China 's first lady , Peng Liyuan , and ushered inside for a tour .

Michelle Obama is on an official visit to expand relations between the United States and China .

`` Warmly Welcome to Our School , '' read a sign on the digital aboard in front of the complex .

A stop in a robotics lab included a look at a station holding a metal , snowflake-shaped , remote-controlled robot . `` It can go over obstacles , '' a student said , demonstrating as it moved along a white strip over cardboard and plastic yellow bricks .

` Bad Boy ' robot ` is really naughty '

When the robot got stuck , its student operator said something to the effect that it was nervous . `` Do n't be nervous , '' Obama said . `` It 's pretty impressive , '' she added as the robot was operating .

At another station , a young man showed Obama `` Bad Boy , '' so named because the robot `` is really naughty , '' he said , according to a pool reporter .

Obama agreed to try it , but could not get the remote control to work and handed it to Malia , who had better luck .

The first lady spoke with a number of students , asking a 16-year-old what she wanted to do after high school . `` I want to turn mathematics into reality , '' the student answered .

When they arrived at a pingpong practice room containing six tables , an instructor asked Obama if she wanted to try her hand at it , and she quickly assumed the role of student .

`` All right , wait , '' she said , taking off her vest . `` How do I hold the paddle properly ? ''

`` This is the angle , '' the instructor responded , holding it vertically .

`` OK , we 're going to get this , '' Obama said . `` Let 's go . ''

Armed with a paddle , she volleyed for about five minutes -- first with the instructor , then with a young woman , as students looked on . `` Nice , '' she said occasionally after her opponent returned her shot .

But Obama acknowledged that she had little experience with the game . `` My husband plays , '' she said . `` He thinks he 's better than he really is . I could stay here all day . ''

1971 pingpong match proved key

The 50-year-old first lady was in grade school when a chance meeting by a Chinese pingpong player with a U.S. player led to Beijing 's decision to invite the American table tennis team for an exhibition match in 1971 .

That match laid the groundwork for the visit of U.S. President Richard Nixon in 1972 and paved the way for the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1979 , ending China 's isolation from the outside world .

As the members of the first family departed the school , 33 American exchange students -- one of them from Sidwell Friends , the Washington school attended by Malia -- lined up in front of the red carpet and across from their Chinese counterparts to shake hands with the family before they left for their next stop , the Forbidden City .

Michelle Obama 's schedule does not include a news conference , and she is not expected to answer questions from professional reporters during the trip . But on Saturday , she is planning to answer several of the more than 300 questions filed by CNN iReporters about studying abroad and international travel .

And on Tuesday , she will answer questions submitted by U.S. classrooms as part of a webinar series by Discovery Education and the White House .

The three generations of girls and women flew from Washington on Wednesday for what is to be a weeklong trip to three Chinese cities , where Obama is expected to speak with children at schools about education and youth empowerment .

Official : U.S.-China relationship is ` between peoples '

`` Her visit and her agenda sends a message that the relationship between the United States and China is not just between leaders , it 's a relationship between peoples , '' said Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes .

`` That 's critically important , given the roles that our two countries are going to play in the 21st century , that we maintain the very regular contacts that we have at the leader-to-leader level , but that we 're also reaching out and building relationships with people , particularly young people . ''

U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at next week 's Nuclear Security Summit at The Hague , Netherlands .

White House officials told reporters this week that the two leaders will discuss issues on which the United States and China differ , such as human rights and trade .

`` We do n't expect the people of China to agree with all of our policy positions at any given moment , but the more they understand the United States -- the more they understand the President and the first lady and their values and their priorities -- we think the better it is for both of our countries , '' Rhodes added .

China is the fifth most popular country for U.S. students studying abroad , and more students from China study in the United States than from any other country .

CNN 's Mike Martinez contributed to this report .

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Anyone for table tennis ? Michelle Obama is

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The game led to a thaw in U.S.-Chinese relations more than four decades ago

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Michelle Obama is to answer questions from CNN iReporters on Saturday

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`` I want to turn mathematics into reality , '' says one student